The Praja Rajyam has decided to forge an alliance with the Congress for the time being instead of going for a full-scale merger.
The political affairs committee of the PR on Friday authorised the party chief, Mr Chiranjeevi, to take any decision in its best interests, including an alliance or a ‘working arrangement’ with the Congress when he meets Mrs Sonia Gandhi.
Sources said the committee endorsed a suggestion that PR should go for an alliance with Congress now, but should not agree to a merger with the ruling party.
The meeting, presided over by Mr Chiranjeevi, initially discussed the possibility of fielding a party candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls with the support of the Congress and the Majlis.
“We do not know what is in her (Mrs Sonia Gandhi) mind,” said Mr Kotagiri Vidhyadhara Rao, PAC member and former minister. “We will seek support from the Congress for our candidate, and if it is not possible, we will extend support to the Congress.”
Mr Rao told this correspondent that if Mrs Gandhi desired so the PR was ready to go in for a tie-up or alliance with the Congress in the local body elections. “But under no circumstance will the PR merge with the Congress,” he added.
Mr Chiranjeevi will leave for Delhi on Saturday evening. He will meet Mrs Gandhi either on Saturday night or on Sunday.
